PTHrP (parathyroid hormone-related protein) is abnormally expressed in a substantial majority of lung cancers, especially non-small cell lung cancers, and plays a key role in tumor progression.
More recent studies have shown that there is intranuclear localization of PTHrP and that intracrine effects of the peptide are involved in promoting processes that result in tumor progression (nall proliferation, apoptosis, cell attachment and angiogenesis) in prostate cancer.
PTHrP transfection converted a non-invasive cell line into one that progressed in the skeleton: Injection of the PTHrP transfected cells resulted in greater tumor progression in bone when compared to non-transfected cells, and this effect was also influenced by non-amino terminal peptides of PTHrP.
Establishment of two human small cell lung cancer cell lines: the evidence of accelerated production of parathyroid hormone-related protein with tumor progression.